1: In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash: Technically, the best of the holiday writing from this went into the film A Christmas Story, which remains my favorite holiday movie despite overexposure every Christmas day for most-if-not-all the years my kid has walked this earth. The rhythm and the imagery are amazing. You can watch the movie with your eyes closed and envision the whole thing — though I wouldn’t miss one of Darren McGavin’s eyebrow twitches for all the money.

2: A Visit From St. Nicholas: Seriously, does anyone write like this anymore? I still get goosebumps when I hear “More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came…” Yes, poetry requires a lot more polishing and every single word choice matters, but this one is a time-honored tradition for a good reason — and it sounds just as good read out loud as it sounds in one’s own head. True love.

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Lucien Fewell shot James Clark after he apparently ran off with Lucien's 16-year-old sister. The murder trial that followed featured two Confederate generals and a former Virginia governor. What was the verdict? (also on Amazon.com)